TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram today announced
the indictment of five alleged members of
a drug ring that brought large quantities
of heroin and cocaine from New York City
to Hudson County for distribution.

The
indictment resulted from a joint investigation
by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice,
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office
and New York Drug Enforcement Task Force.
The investigation began in November 2007
and resulted in arrests of three of the
defendants in February, and a fourth in
April, on conspiracy and drug charges. The
indictment was returned on June 23 but was
sealed until today because of the ongoing
investigation.

The
seven-count state grand jury indictment
charges these five individuals as follows:

It
is alleged that Hernandez would obtain large
quantities of heroin and cocaine in New
York City for distribution to Mejia. Mejia
allegedly would transport the drugs to New
Jersey, where they were distributed to other
members of the conspiracy, including Carbonell.
Carbonell allegedly was distributing large
amounts of cocaine and heroin out of a storefront
on Kennedy Boulevard in Union City. Arrias
and Osorio allegedly were involved in delivering
heroin and cocaine to Carbonell.

Hernandez,
Mejia and Arrias were arrested on Feb. 28
by members of the investigating agencies.
On that date, search warrants were executed
at Hernandez’s residence and Meija’s
residence. At Hernandez’s resident
on Convent Avenue in New York City, officers
allegedly seized more than a kilogram of
heroin, two loaded semi-automatic guns,
and $6,000 in cash. They allegedly seized
more than 150 grams of heroin at Meijia’s
residence on 83rd Street in North Bergen.
Carbonell was arrested on April 3. Bail
was set at $200,000 for each of the arrested
defendants.

The
case was presented to the state grand jury
by Deputy Attorney General Annmarie Taggart
of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs
& Organized Crime Bureau. The investigation
was led by Lt. Chuck Foley and Detective
Miguel Rodriguez of the Division of Criminal
Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau,
along with Detective Ray Santos of the Hudson
County Prosecutor’s Office and members
of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force
under the supervision of Sgt. Neil Nappi
of the New York City Police Department.

The
first-degree charges carry a maximum sentence
of 20 years in state prison and a $500,000
fine, while second-degree charges carry
a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison
and a $150,000 fine. Third-degree charges
carry a maximum sentence of five years in
prison and a $15,000 fine.

The
indictment
is merely an accusation and the defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.